91172.pdf

276 10 Corrections and Prison Practices—Juvenile Forensics

Previous research found that Caucasian delinquents made more serious and lethal

suicide attempts than African American delinquents or delinquents ot mixed ethnic-

ity (Alessi, McManus, Brickman, & Grapentine, 1984). Alessi ct al. further reported

that offenders diagnosed with major affective disorders or borderline personality

disorders attempted suicide at a much greater rate. These results are consistent with

suicidal behavior among individuals suffering from these disorders in the general

population. Wool and Dooley (1987) reported the explanations given by younger

inmates who attempted suicide while in custody The most frequent explanations

included a close relationship was threatened, a visit did not take place, and the prison

environment was intolerable. When these adolescent needs are not fulfilled, many

youths enter a state of emotional crisis. Sometimes this manifests itself as a cry for

help or self-injury, other times the child literally escapes from the crisis through the

desperate act of suicide.

Forensic Psychology and Policy Implications

Juvenile suicide is a tragic end to a young life. Psychologists have studied the predic-
tors and the reasons for suicide for many years. Specific studies have been conducted
on adolescent suicide and how it differs from its adult counterpart, as well as on
subgroups of adolescents who are at a greater risk for suicide. The research clearly
draws a link between delinquency and suicide as well as incarceration and suicide. It
should be of no surprise that a combination of delinquency and incarceration places
a youth at high risk for suicidal ideation and behavior. In the case of Nancy and
Ivan, the two suicides committed within 3 months of one another should alert cor-
rectional facilities, mental health agencies, and the public to the severity of suicidal
behavior among incarcerated juveniles.
Within the field of psychology there is an increased awareness of suicide pre-
vention strategies and an ability to implement crisis intervention with suicidal indi-
viduals. If incarcerated youths are at such a high risk for suicide, why is little being
done to prevent such occurrences? Relying on the results of empirical studies, we
find that specific youths can be identified who are particularly vulnerable. We also
know that adolescents who commit suicide while incarcerated often do so within
the first month of custody. Thus, in order to provide the necessary preventative
measures, these individuals need to be identified and given counseling and crisis
intervention as soon as they arrive in custody. When dealing with a human life
and, in particular, a young vulnerable life, the focus must be on addressing the
problem of suicidality before it occurs. Society places a strong emphasis on research
and intervention with suicidal individuals, yet virtually ignores the issue of suicide
among incarcerated adolescents. This suggests that some believe that the lost life of
an incarcerated youth does not equal that of a nonincarcerated youth. As long as
this bias exists, so too will the problem of suicide among incarcerated adolescents.